"Lavia has spent almost as many months at Stamford Bridge as he has made appearances for the club - just 33 outings spread over 30 months. Injuries have plagued Lavia - first an ankle problem, then hamstring and thigh issues - and his 64 minutes in Saturday's 4-2 extra-time FA Cup victory over Wrexham marked his first start in four months due to the latest obstacle, a quad injury sustained early in November's Champions League game at Qarabag."
"His rustiness showed at the Racecourse Ground, and though Liam Rosenior was keen to stress that Lavia will not instantly return to his top level, it was still tough to watch how behind the pace of the game he was - and a bleak thought to ponder how long it may take him to get back to his best."
"A sign, in that moment, that Lavia is still lacking match sharpness and that his route back to his former status will take some time. New hurdles lay ahead for Lavia in a more competitive Chelsea midfield environment."
Romeo Lavia joined Chelsea in August 2023 for £58 million as a highly promising 19-year-old midfielder from Southampton. His time at the club has been severely hampered by recurring injuries including ankle, hamstring, thigh, and quad problems. After four months sidelined by a quad injury sustained in November's Champions League match, Lavia made his return in Chelsea's FA Cup victory over Wrexham, playing 64 minutes. His performance revealed significant rust and lack of match sharpness, with multiple instances of poor positioning and slow reactions. Manager Liam Rosenior acknowledged Lavia will need considerable time to regain his previous form. The midfielder faces a challenging path to recovery within an increasingly competitive Chelsea midfield.
Read at www.standard.co.uk
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